List of -ectomies

The surgical terminology suffix "-ectomy" was taken from Greek εκ-τομια = "act of cutting out". It means surgical removal of something, usually from inside the body.

A

• Adenectomy is the surgical removal of a gland.
• Adenoidectomy is the surgical removal of the adenoids, also known as the pharyngeal tonsils.
• Adrenalectomy is the removal of an adrenal gland.
• Appendicectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix; it is also known as an appendectomy.

B

• Bullectomy is the surgical removal of bullae from the lung.
• Bunionectomy is the removal of a bunion.
• Bursectomy is the removal of a bursa, a small sac filled with synovial fluid.

C

• Cephalectomy is the surgical removal of the head (decapitation).
• Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder.
• Choroidectomy is the removal of the choroid layer of the eye.
• Clitoridectomy is the partial or total removal of the external part of the clitoris.
• Cystectomy is the removal of the urinary bladder. It also means removal of a cyst.

D

• Discectomy is a surgical procedure involving the dissection of an extravasted segment of the intervertebral disc.
• Diverticulectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a diverticulum.

E

• Embolectomy is the removal of any type of embolism.
• Endarterectomy is the removal of plaque from the lining of the artery otherwise constricted by a buildup of fatty deposits.
• Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is the burning, severing, removing or clamping parts of the sympathetic nerve trunk.
• Esophagectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the esophagus.
• Extrapleural pneumonectomy is the removal of the entire lung along with the pleura, the lung lining and part of the pericardium, the lining of the heart.

F

• Frenectomy is the removal of a frenulum.

G

• Gastrectomy is the partial or full removal of the stomach.
• Ganglionectomy is the excision of a ganglion.
• Glossectomy is the removal of part or all of the tongue.

H

• Hemicorporectomy is the surgical amputation of the entire body below the waist, including the legs, genitalia, urinary system, pelvic bones, anus, and rectum.
• Hemicolectomy is the removal of half the colon or the large intestine.
• Hemilaminectomy is the surgical trimming or partial removal of the lamina portion of a spinal vertebra.
• Hemorrhoidectomy is removal of a hemorrhoid.
• Hemispherectomy is the surgical removal of one cerebral hemisphere.
• Hemipelvectomy is the surgical removal of half of the pelvis and one of the legs. There are two types of the operation, first being an internal hemipelvectomy in which the pelvis on the one side is removed but the leg is saved. The second type of operation being an external hemipelvectomy, which removes the pelvis on the one side along with the amputation of that leg.
• Hepatectomy is the surgical resection of the liver.
• Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus.
• Hypophysectomy is the surgical removal of the pituitary gland or hypophysis such as when presented with a tumor.

I

• Iridectomy is the removal of a piece of iris from the eye (mainly done for iris tumours, such as melanoma of the iris).

L

• Laminectomy is the trimming or surgical removal of the lamina, portion of the spinal vertebrae.
• Laryngectomy is the surgical removal of the larynx, which involves separating the airway from the mouth, nose, and esophagus.
• Lumpectomy is the surgical removal of a lump from a breast.

M

• Mastectomy is the surgical removal of one or both breasts. A mastectomy can be either partial or complete.
• Mastoidectomy is the removal of disease from the bone behind the ear.
• Maxillectomy is the removal of the maxilla or cheekbone. This can sometimes be done with orbital exenteration (removal of the eye and the orbital contents surrounding the eye) or by enucleation (removal of the eyeball).
• Mandibulectomy is the removal of the mandible or the lower jaw bone.
• Myomectomy is the removal of fibroids from the uterus, but the uterus is left intact.

N

• Nephrectomy is the removal of a kidney.

O

• Oophorectomy is the surgical removal of a female animal's ovaries, also called spaying.
• Orchidectomy is any process whereby a biological male (human or animal) loses the use of his testes. Also known as an orchiectomy.

P

• Pharyngolaryngooesphogectomy is the surgical removal of the pharynx, larynx and esophogus, usually as a result of cancer of the hypopharynx.
• Pancreatectomy is the removal of part or all of the pancreas. If the whole of the pancreas is removed, the person will become diabetic.
• Panniculectomy is the removal of a panniculus, which is a dense layer of fatty tissue growth consisting of subcutaneous fat in the lower abdominal area.
• Parathyroidectomy is the surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands.
• Pelvic exenteration is the removal of all the female reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, vagina, part of the bowel, urinary bladder and sometimes the vulva.
• Penectomy is the partial or complete removal of the penis. Also known as a pendectomy.
• Pneumonectomy is the surgical removal of a lung.
• Photorefractive keratectomy is the alteration of the cornea by means of a laser.
• Posthectomy, more commonly known as circumcision, is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis. This is also known as a prepucectomy, as the medical term for the foreskin is the prepuce.
• Proctocolectomy is the removal of the colon or the large intestine and the rectum.
• Prostatectomy is the removal of the prostate gland. This may be either all of the gland, which is known as a radical prostatectomy, or just a part of the prostate, which is called a transurethral resection of the prostate.

R

• Radical vulvectomy is the complete removal of the vulva, including the lymph nodes on both sides of the groin, usually resulting from vulvar cancer.
• Radical mastectomy is the removal of the whole breast, along with the chest lining, both major and minor chest muscles and all of the underarm lymph nodes on that side. This procedure is also called a Halstead Mastectomy.
• Rhinectomy is the removal of part or all of the nose.
• Radical nephrectomy is the removal of the kidney along with the adrenal gland and the ureter, which is the tube after the kidney connecting to the urinary bladder with it.

S

• Salpingo-oophorectomy is the removal of both the ovaries and the fallopian tubes, more commonly performed in animals than in humans.
• Splenectomy is the surgical removal of the spleen. Autosplenectomy is where certain diseases destroy the spleen's function.
• Stapedectomy is the removal of ossified stapes from the ear that are then replaced by a prosthesis.
• Salpingectomy is the removal of the fallopian tubes
• Sympathectomy is the cutting of the nerves.

T

• Thrombectomy is the excision of an abnormal or dangerous blood clot.
• Thymectomy is the surgical removal of the thymus gland.
• Thyroidectomy is the removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.
• Tonsillectomy is the removal of the tonsils.

V

• Vaginectomy is the removal of all or part of the vagina.
• Vasectomy is the surgical tying of the vas deferens, tubes that connect to the male testes and transport sperm, done for the purposes of sterilization in males.
• Vulvectomy is the removal of all or part of the vulva.

Other uses

Sometimes this suffix is used humorously in non-surgical contexts, for example "popculturectomy" for a type of editing process on a text.be:Эктамія de:Ektomie fr:Liste d'ectomies id:-ektomi is:Brottnám (líffræði) ru:Эктомия